Photos from Wednesday August 30, 2017 Rapid Transit Board Meeting
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids police arrested Louis DeShane, Rapid Bus Driver and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 836 Union Member for trespassing at the monthly board meeting held on Wednesday, August 30.
An hour into the Rapid public board meeting members began discussing the governance report that included CEO Peter Varga’s employment evaluation, including a vote on a $4,500 merit bonus.
Board Chair Barbara Holt addressed the board by saying “We are going on to item 11 (on the meeting agenda) which is concerning the CEO evaluation. Like I said item 11, this was obviously Peter’s (Peter Varga) final review in his position of CEO.”
DeShane stood up, voiced his opposition of the merit raise for Varga by facing board members and yelling “Not today. No contract, no vote”. He rallied other activist union members, leading them in a chants of resistance before the expulsion from the room.
Two Grand Rapids police officers approached DeShane, issued a verbal warning, lead him out of the room where he stopped, spread his arms and laid down on the floor before being handcuffed. As he was being arrested for trespassing, board members adjourned the meeting, and exited the room.
The board members returned a short time later, approving Vargas merit before ending the public meeting and heading into a closed door session.
ATU members have been without a contract for the past two years and just recently voted down a contract proposal.
You can watch Louis DeShane being arrested here
Media Works of John Rothwell 
What? Those meetings are open to the public.
They are looking for any way to get rid of him, they think he’s a big mouth because he’s involved with helping the union fighting for fare contracts.
They fired him and he was brought back.
Why is the CEO of a city not that big getting an even bigger raise when the guy makes over 200,000.00 a year? Company car that costs 60-80,000.00 brand new . Free gas and insurance with free car wash every day!
Those drivers deserve better!
Also why are the costs of bus rides going up. Again.
But … he doesn’t care, as long as he makes more than the mayor of Grand Rapids.
Hope you can sleep good at night Peter Varga!
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